Vanity box



Feb. 16, 1932. J. L. MCATREE 1,845,507.

VANITY BOX Filed Feb. 19, 1930 INVENTQ i QT A l4 74d ATTORNEY$ PatentedFeb. 16, 1932 ii i JOHN L. MCATREE, OF BBGQKLYN,

NEW YORK, AssIe-Non T scovILL ivra'nnrncrun- VANITY BOX Applicationfiled February 19,1930. Serial No. 429,497.

This invention relates to certain improvements in boxes or cases forcontaining cosmetics now commonly known as vanity cases.

These small boxes or cases have now come into wide use for carryingcosmetics such as rouge or powder, either in the form of. loose powderor compacts, and to be of commercial practicability the boxes must besmall, relatively light, and of -;attractive appear- 10 ance. Thecosmetic used in these boxes, when in the form of a com )act, is mouldedonto a plate or tray, or other suitable carrier, which is positioned inthe box, and when in the form of loose powder may be carried in acontainer which may be inserted and removed from the box. In this classofboxes, to improve their appearance, it is desirable that a part of thebox should be of a different color or finished in a difierent way fromthe 29 remainder of the box. Where these boxes are made of metal as isusually the case, it is difficult in processing or finishing the boxesto provide a box having metals giving different appearances, or where abox is lacqueredit is diificult toj lacquer the parts of the box indifi'erent colors; Furthermore it is important in the commercialproduction of these boxes that they be of few partsand the parts soarranged that the boxes'can be easily assembled,

produced in an economical way and at the same time be strong enough towithstand the ordinary wear to which they are subjected.

It is the especial object of the present in vention to provide a box ofthis character comprising a body and cover, either or both of which areprovided with a cutout portion in which may-be inserteda carrier for thepowder or rouge or other'cosmetic, this carrier forming a part of thebody or the cover of the box, or both, so that the box proper may beformed of, onemetal and the compact carrier of another metal, wherebyany desired difference in color or finish of the box may be obtained.

A further obj ect of he mvention is to provide such a construction inwhich the box is providedwith a mirror, the parts of which are soarranged that the carriers may be readily inserted and removed from thebox,

so that the boxes'can be without departing and in which the mirror maybe so positioned in the box as not to materially increase its thickness.

A. further object of the invention is to provide such a construction offew parts which may be readily and quickly assembled so that economicalproduction in quantities is possible.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to, the inventionconsists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations whichwill be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and thenovel features pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In these drawings,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box em bodying the invention, thebox being shown closed;

' Figure 2 is a similar view, the box being shown open;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the box and a preferredway of mounting a mirror therein;

Figure 4 is a central section of the box shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view of one of the carriers which may be employed forholding the cosmetic, and i V Figure 6 is a view'of another form ofcosmetic holder or carrier. v Referring now to these drawings, the boxselected to illustrate the invention is a two part-box provided with amirror and capacitated to hold rouge and powder incompact form, and'thebox includes a body and a cover pivotally associated by a hinge. It willbe understood, however, that this box is simply illustrative of theinventionand the invention is not to be restricted to this particulararrangement or. to the particular shape of the box shown, and it isunderstood that the arrangement of the parts and the shape of the boxmay be varied within wide limits from the invention. The box shown.however, comprises a body 1 and a cover 2. The body 1 isprovided withperipheral side wall 3 and thecover is pro vided with a peripheral sidewall t, and the body and they cover are united by a hingeformed byturning over complementary parts of the walls of the body and the coverto form hinge-knuckles 5, through which passes a pivot pin 6. Inaccordance with the invention, the body or the cover of the box or boththese members are so shaped that a compact carrier may be associatedtherewith and form a part of the member with which it is so associated,so that the body of the box and c the cover may be made of one metalhaving a certain finish or lacquer, and the bottom of the compactcarrier may be made of a metal or material of a different finish orcolor, so that a box of distinctive appearance may be produced. Themember of the box with which the compact carrier is to be so associatedis furthermore formed so that the carrier is rigidly held in place butat the same time may be readily removed for replace ment by anothercarrier of the same or differentfinish, as the user may prefer.

While the specific construction of the box parts by which this can bedone may be varied, in the particular construction shown both the bodyand the cover of the box are arranged to have associated therewith acompact carrier which will form a part of the box. As shown, the body 1of the box is formed with a central cutout 7 surrounded by a rim 8, andthe cover of the box is provided with a central cutout 9 surrounded by arim 10. These apertures or cutouts 7 and 9 are closed by compactcarriers which hold the rouge and the powder so that the bottom. orouter face of each carrier fits snugly within the rims 8, 10 and form apart of the box body and cover when associated therewith.

These compact carriers may be of various configurations and may beassociated with the box members in various ways and two such ways areshown in the drawings. These different forms of carriers and the meansby which they are held in the box are shown in one box, but it. will beunderstood that the carriers may be alike and may be associated with thebox in the same way if desired. Referring to the specific constructionillustrated and first to the cover member 2, this cover member isprovided with an in wardly extending flange 11, which terminates in arim or ledge 12 which is inturned toward the central axis of the member2, the flange 11 and the rim 12 being conveniently formed by turning inthe metal of the box. This flange 11 extends inwardly a substantialdistance and projects above the rim 9, before referred to, to form aseat for a mirror carrier, as hereinafter referred to. The fiance 11 isfurther provided with a projection 13, which acts as a holder for a puffor other suitable applicator 14. Seated in the opening 9 is a compactcarrier 15, shown in the form of a tray, the walls of which are in closefrictional engagement with the inner walls of I the flange 11, this traybeing dimensioned eaaaov to fill the space between the rim 12 and theouter face of the rim 10 of the cover member, so that when the tray isin place the outer face thereof will form a continuation of the outerface of the rim 10. The outer face 16 of this tray may be lacquered orfinished in a different manner from that of the rim 9, so that a box ofdistinctive appearance may be produced without undue difficulties infinishing the parts.

The powder may be compacted, if desired, directly onto the tray 15, ormay be carried on a plate 17 of any suitable material, which in turn issuitably secured, as by adhesive on the tray. As before stated, the body1, where the body isused for carrying a cosmetic, may be constructedlike the cover 2, as just described. In the drawings, however, and asshown, the flange 11 is omitted from the body 1 and a compact carrier ofsomewhat different form is used. As shown, this carrier is in the formof a plate 18 dimensioned to snugly fit in the body 1 resting on the rim8 of that member. The plate 18 is provided with a depressed portion 19,this depression being sufficiently deep so that when the plate is inposition in the body the outer face of this depression forms acontinuation of the outer face of the rim 8, as shown in Figure 3. Thisplate may be held in position in any suitable manner, as by a pair ofwings 20, which are in close frictional engagement with the wall 8 ofthe body and, if desired, may be securely held in place by nibs 21punched in from the walls of the box. The cosmetic is compacted onto aplate of light metal 22, which is secured in the depression 19 in anysuitable manner, as by adhesive, and the body may be provided with asuitable applicator, such as a puff, indicated at 23.

In the best constructions, a mirror is provided for use when thecosmetic is being applied by the user, and in the best constructionsthismirror is so arranged that it is enclosed in the, box when the boxis closed, and is pivoted so that the user can view the same and at thesame time have the cosmetics in the body and in the cover exposed.Furthermore, for simplicity of construction, the flange 11, beforereferred to, is utilized for holding the mirror. While the mirror may besecured to this flange in various ways, in the particular constructionillustrated there is provided an annulus 24c, which may be snapped overthe outer face of the flange 11, this annulus being so proportioned asto have a close friction fit with the flange, so that the parts aresecurely held in place. This annulus is provided with a neck 25 whichhas an upstanding edge 26 which is bent over to form hinge-knuckles 27,28, and the mirror, which may be of polished metal indicated at 29, hasa part of its edge turned over to form a knuckle 30, these parts beingunited by a pivot pin 31. Preferably it is shown as assisting in holdingthe mirror in place, and the neck is of suflicient length to snuglyengage the wall of the box, as shown 5 in Figure 2. For convenience inraising the (i mirror, a part thereof may be cut out, as indicated at 32in Figure 2, the edge of this cutout providing a convenient finger grip.

The cover and the body of the boX may be secured together in anysuitable manner. As shown, the body is provided with a nib 33, and thecover is provided with a catch member 34 pivoted thereto at 35.

It will be seen that with the construction shown and described a verysimple and compact box has been produced, and one in which theappearance of the box may be diversified as desired without anydifficulties in manufacture or assembly. Furthermore, a

convenient construction has been provided for holding the mirror inplace and a boX of few parts produced. While the invention has beenshown and described in its preferred forms, it will be understood thatcertain changes and variations may be madein the construction andarrangement of the parts, and the invention therefore is not to belimited to the precise construction shown and described but may bevaried with 39 the scope of the claims hereunto annexed.

What I claim is:

1. In a vanity case, a compact holding compartment having a cutout, aninwardly extending annular flange surrounding the cutout, a compactcarrier frictionally engaging the inner wall of the flange, an annulusengaging the outer wall of the flange, a mirror pivotally associatedwith the annulus, and a cover.

49 2. In a vanity case, a compact holding compartment having a cutout,an inwardly extending central flange surrounding the cutout, a compactcarrier frictionally engaging the inner wall of the flange, an annulusengaging the outer wall of the flange, a projection on the annulusextending to the wall of the compartment, and a mirror pivoted on theannulus.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 59 my hand.

JOHN L. 'MCATREE.

